The development of the nerves of the small intestine was studied in 26 human fetuses with the gestational age of 11 to 40 weeks.The findings are as follows:(1)The distance between the Auerbach's ganglia and the muscular layer is small in the early fetal period and it increases progressively as the fetus grows.(2)The density of neuropils increases gradually.(3)The number of large gradual vacuoles (LGV) is small in the 3rd month of gestation,and it increases gradually and is quite numerous in the 6th month.(4)The morphology of the synapses is not so typical as that of an adult.(5)The peak values of the stereological morphological parameters of the organelles in the neurons appear between the 4th-6th month and maintain at a relatively high level until the baby is bron.

Objective To investigate the effect of estrogen on gliosis, synaptic proliferation and reorganization in hippocampus of rats with chronic epilepsy induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, PTZ kindling epilepsy group, estrogen+PTZ group and estrogen +Tamoxifen (mixed estrogen antagonist)+PTZ group. The PTZ kindling epilepsy group was intraperitoneally injected with 35 mg/kg PTZ once a day, then the behavior of the rats in one hour was observed. The estrogen interfered group was intramuscluarly injected of 0.6 ?g/kg ?-estradiol 6 h before PTZ injection, 1/3 d. The estrogen+Tamoxifen interfered group was injected of Tamoxifen into lateral cerebral ventricle 1 h before estrogen injection. If the severe epileptic seizures occurred three times, the rats were ready for detecting the expression of filial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (P38) by immunohistochemical technique. Results Epileptic seizure occoured earlier and more severely in most rats of estrogen interfered group than no estrogen interfered group. Rats in all model groups were found more astrocyte proliferation and positive synaptophysin staining, especially in the CA2, CA3 and hilar areas of dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus than control group. Estrogen+Tamoxifen interfered group showed significant difference as compared with other groups (P

Thermophilic and alkalophilic xylanases have great potential in the pulp bleaching industry. In order to improve the thermal stability of an alkaline family 11 xylanase Xyn11A-LC, aromatic residues were introduced into the N-terminus of the enzyme by rational design. The mutant increased the optimum temperature by 5 degrees C. The wild type had a half-time of 22 min at 65 degrees C and pH 8.0 (Tris-HCl buffer). Under the same condition, the mutant had the half-time of 106 min. CD spectroscopy revealed that the melting temperature (T(m)) values of the wild type and mutant were 55.3 degrees C and 67.9 degrees C, respectively. These results showed that the introduction of aromatic residues could enhance the thermal stability of Xyn11A-LC.
Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases ; chemistry ; Enzyme Stability ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Protein Engineering ; Temperature

Objective To evaluate the decreased level of serum inhibin B(INHB)treated by gunadotropin releasing hormone agonist(GNRH-a)in predicting ovarian response and pregnancy in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET).Methods The prospective study enrolled 124 women given by GnRH-a+recombine follicle stimulating hormone(rFSH)+human chorionic gonadotrophin(hCG)long term stimulation protocol undergone their first cycle of IVF-ET treatment.The following predictive factors were collected and analyzed,such as age,basal level of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),the ratio of FSH/luteinizing hormone(LH),the concentration of INHB after down-regulation,total number of antral follicle count(AFC)and mean ovarian volume. Ovarian response was evaluated by the number of oecytes obtained.A multiple regression analysis and logistic regression model were used for all possible prognostic variables to evaluate the value of difierent hormones in predicting ovariall response and pregnancy after IVF-ET.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the level of INHB in predicting the number of oocytes obtained.The sensitivity and specificity were calculated at the discriminating cut-off point Results The concentration of INHB after down-regulation showed a highly significant positive correlations with the number of oocytes obtained(r=0.435,P<0.01).The multiple regression analyses showed INHB was the most significant predictor of the number of retrieved oocytes,but INHB was not associated with IVF-ET outcome significantly(P>0.05).ROC analyses showed INHB after down-regulation had the largest area under curve(AUC)0.933(95%CI:0.878-0.988).When a threshold of 15 ng/L of INHB was established,95.5%sensitivity and 50.0% specificity in ovarian response were observed.Conclusions The level of INHB Was the best factor in predicting ovarian response in IVF-ET.Decreased level of INHB Was the early sign of ovarian reserve function failure,however,useless in predicting IVF-ET outcome.

Objective To assess the efficacy of ganciclovir to prevent and cure cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after renal transplantation. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SCI, China Academic Journals Full-text Databases, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Databases and Chinese Medical Association Journals to collect randomized controlled trials of ganciclovir to prevent and cure CMV infection after renal transplantation (up to June, 2009). Two reviewers extracted data independently using a designed extraction form. The quality of included trials was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook. RevMan 5.0 software was used for data analysis. Results Twelve randomized controlled trials were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: ①Compared with no receive antiviral agents, ganciclovir couldn't lower CMV infection rate and disease rate in 3 months and 6 months after renal transplantation, but could lower CMV disease rate in 12 months. The delay between transplantation and CMV infection was significantly longer. ②Either valaciclovir or ganciclovir could lower CMV infection rate and disease rate after renal transplantation, without statistical difference. ③Compared with acyclovir, ganciclovir could lower CMV disease rate in 6 months after renal transplantation. ④Compared with CMV-IgG and valganciclovir, ganciclovir didn't have statistical difference in decreasing CMV disease rate (P=0.93;P=0.14). Conclusions Longer prophylaxis by ganciclovior may prevent CMV infection after renal transplantation. Its curative effect is similar to valaciclovir, CMV-IgG and valganciclovir, but better than acyclovir.

BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (CDK-5) is one of the members in cyclin-dependent protein kinase family. The attention has being drawn by researchers on the relationship between the expression and distribution of CDK-5 mRNA and its protein in the brain during brain development and neural degeneration in thought-cognition.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the influence of CDK-5 on neurogeny and neural degeneration during cerebral development.DESIGN: Single factor analysis of variance.SETTING: Histological and Embryological Department and Neurobiological Department in Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Histological and Embryological Department and Neurobiological Department in Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. Twenty-five Wistar rats of 5 phases were employed, named embryonicphase (E8-E21), neonatal phase (P0-P15),childhood (P16-2 months), grown-up phase (＞ 2 months) and senile phase (＞ 8 months), 5 rats in each group.METHODS: In situ hybridization histochemistry (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was adopted in brain sections from embryonic phase to senile phase.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURFS: Distribution and expression of positive cells of CDK-5 mRNA and protein in various brain areas.RESULTS: Twenty-five rats entered result analysis for all. ① The expression of CDK-5 mRNA presented in entire development from E14 to P350and was in tendency of stability after growth-up. CDK-5 mRNA localized mainly in neurons and positive regions distributed mainly in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebellum and a part of nerve nuclei. ② The expression of CDK-5 was strong after birth and it was weaker in embryonic and senile rats. Positive regions concentrated mainly in peripheral ventricle, hippocampus, cerebellum and a part of nerve nuclei.The expression only presented in hippocampus and Purkinje cellular layer of cerebellum in senile rats.CONCLUSION: CDK-5 in brain runs through entire phases of neural development, it expresses more significantly in neonatal phase and childhood and declines after growth-up, especially in senile phase. The declined expression of CDK-5 in hippocampus of senile rats is closely associated with decline of learning and memory in senility probably.

Objective　To evaluate the effect of Naogongfude (NGFD, a traditional Chinese medicine orally administrated) on learning and memory and the expressions of synaptophysin (SY) and Tau-protein in cerebral cortex and hippocampus in aged rats and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods　Rats were divided into normal and neural disturbance groups according to the outcomes of active avoidance reaction (AAR) test, and then each group was randomly divided into control and NGFD-treated experimental groups. Animals were orally fed with NGFD for 2 months (5 ml/d) in experimental group or routinely fed in control and taken AAR and passive avoidance reaction (PAR) tests. After the rats were sacrificed, the synaptosome count, the expression of SY and Tau-protein, and the neuron apoptosis in cerebrum were examined. Results　The rats after 2-month NGFD administration had an increased AAR acquisition, obviously delayed AAR extinction and prolonged step through latency (STL) of PAR. The number of synaptosomes was raised and the immunoreactive intensity of synaptophysin was increased remarkedly, while Tau-protein immunoreactivity and apoptotic cells were decreased in cerebrum. Conclusion　NGFD does have the effect of improving brain function and putting off the aging of rat brain according to the results of behavior study and morphological observation.

Objective To detection the methylation of p16INK4A in primary hepatocellular carcinoma, a nested bisulfite sequencing and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (BS-MSP) protocol was designed and used.Methods Bisulfite-modified DNA were amplified to evaluate the quality of templates with a pair of bisulfite sequencing primers in the first round of PCR, then subjected to methylation assay with corresponding methylation or unmethylation specific PCR primers.Representative PCR products were sequenced to confirm its correctness.Results 3 of 40 cases (7.5%) were failed to assay due to poor quality of templates, and 29 of 37 cases (78%) were detected p16INK4A methylation.Sequencing results confirmed that templates were correctly amplified.Conclusion BS-MSP technique might be valuable for methylation study on carcinogenesis and clinical assay.

Objective To measure the estrogen concentration of estrogen (E 2) in the culture medium of rat astrocytes (ASTs). Methods Astrocytes in brain cortex of the 2-day-old neonatal rats were collected and cultured. The number of astrocytes was counted and the concentration of estrogen was measured by ELISA method at 0, 7, 14, and 21 d after culture. Results The cell counts were 1?10 4/ml, 1.1?10 6/ml, 1.4?10 6/ ml, and 1.5?10 6/ml, respectively. The concentrations of E 2 were: 0 pg/ml, (117.03?21.32) pg/ml, (266.91?22.03) pg/ml, and (252.62?27.99) pg/ml, respectively. No estrogen was detected in the primary culture medium. The concentration of estrogen increased in a time-dependent manner and reached the peak at 14 d, and then decreased gradually but remained at a certain level. Conclusion E 2 is secreted by astrocytes in the brain cortex of the 2-day-old neonatal rats.

Objective To study the effect and the mechanism of astrocytes-derived estrogen on synaptic transmission. Methods Based on the model of pure cultures of neonatal cortical neurons, the experimental groups were designed as follows: pure neuron culture (group P), ACM culture (group A), mixed culture of AST and neuron (group M), E_ 2 culture (group E), ACM+tamoxifen (estrogen receptor antagonist) culture (group A+T ), tamoxifen culture (group T). The difference among these groups of synaptic transmission was recorded by patch clamp and presynaptic vesicle releasing kinetics was marked by a dye named FM4-64. Results The mean amplitude and frequency of miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs) of group P, A, M, E, A+T and T were: (20.5?2) pA, (13?4) min -1 ; (29.1?3) pA, (73?16) min -1 ; (31.3?3) pA, (78?20) min -1 ; (30.2?3) pA, (76?18) min -1 ; (24.5?2) pA, (35?10) min -1 ; (22.1?2) pA, (37?10) min -1 respectivily. The treatment of pure neuron culture with ACM increased synaptic transmission of pure cultured cortical neuron. Exogenic estradiol added into pure neurons can stimulate the effect of the ACM. Tamoxifen which was the antagonist of estrogen receptor could decrease most effect of ACM on synaptic transmission. The assaying of vesicle release marked by FM4-64 showed astrocytes-derived estrogenic enhancing synaptic transmission was at least mediated by strengthening presynaptic vesicle releasing. Conclusion The estrogen from astrocytes of neonatal rat cortex may enhance neuronal synaptic transmission mainly through estrogen receptor.